Budget 2018: Hammond faces backlash for saying funding for schools will buy ‘little extras’ like whiteboards

Chancellor is 'inexcusably patronising' and ignorant of reality of school cuts, union says

Philip Hammond has been accused of being “condescending” and “disrespectful” in his defence of funding for the “little extras” in schools – which he says will buy some whiteboards or computers.

The chancellor has faced widespread backlash from teachers, parents and unions after he said in the Budget that a one-off £400m bonus would help schools “buy the little extras they need”.

Mr Hammond defended the pledge on Tuesday by saying he believed the cash would be “useful” to headteachers who needed to pay for a few more whiteboards or some new laptops.

The chancellor said many schools would be “very happy” to receive the “nice gesture” – which is around £10,000 per primary school and £50,000 per secondary school in England.

But his defence provoked more anger from the profession, who have been calling for more funding amid cuts to vital resources – including teachers and special educational needs support.

Critics have been using the hashtag “littleextras” on Twitter to condemn the chancellor’s remarks – with some highlighting that more money was given to fixing potholes in the Budget than to schools.

On Mr Hammond’s cash for whiteboards, Liz Allen, an English teacher, said: “Just when I thought he couldn’t be any more condescending and short-sighted.”

Meanwhile, parent group Save our Schools said: “Is he deliberately trolling all of us? To offer this amount whilst core budgets are down 8 per cent, buildings are crumbling, subjects are being cut, school staff are being grossly underpaid, SEND support is falling apart is totally disrespectful.”

When asked what he meant by “little extras” on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Tuesday, Mr Hammond said it could be used to buy “a couple of whiteboards or some laptop computers.”

“Having a cheque for £50,000 I would have thought would have been quite useful for most schools,” he added.

“It was simply giving back a little bit of the money we have saved this year so that schools can buy the odd little piece of kit that they need,” Mr Hammond added on Good Morning Britain.

“I think that is a nice gesture. Many of the schools I know would be very happy to have £50,000 or even £10,000, to buy a whiteboard or a couple of computers”.

But Paul Whiteman, general secretary of headteachers’ union NAHT, told The Independent: “School leaders see every day the impact of funding cuts to children’s education and to their futures.

“To dismiss these concerns with a ‘nice gesture’ is inexcusably patronising and betrays a fundamental ignorance of the reality of the funding crisis facing schools.”

Headteacher Jules White, who organised the anti-funding cuts march last month, said: “Whilst any money for classroom refurbishments or computers is to be welcomed, headteachers feel that the massive issues relating to long term cuts have not been addressed by the government.”

Schools are struggling to meet the complex needs of some students – including children who have experienced domestic violence, family breakdown, and mental health issues, he said.

Mr White added: “Parents and schools ask for help and were glibly offered a few thousand pounds for some ‘little extras’. This does not seem to be a response which is either proportionate or in keeping with the national mood.”

Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, said: “The chancellor has cut billions from our schools and now he is offering them a ‘little extra’ whiteboard.

“This shows how desperately out of touch the Tories are when tens of thousands of teachers, teaching assistants and support staff have been cut and headteachers are begging parents for money for basic supplies.

“As well as fixing their crumbling buildings, our schools urgently need more staff and basic equipment like books and stationery.”